Showing 6-8 of 8 psoriatic arthritis:
The column tjc_observed_28 in the data file joint_exam_deep has values greater than 28 in it. The data dictionary says, “Number of tender joints (out of 28)”. Are values greater than 28 expected?

Yes, they may occur in the data. Quantitative and qualitative assessments of joint swelling and tenderness are found within the JOINT_EXAM and JOINT_EXAM_DETAILS tables, respectively. The joint count may be described in multiple formats including a 28 joint count for swelling and tenderness (variables ‘SJC_OBSERVED_28’ and ‘TJC_OBSERVED_28’) and a total joint count for swelling and[…]

If both total joint counts are populated (tjc_observed) and (tjc_observed_28) and the values are different between them, should we select the largest value as a representation of the number of joints examined?

If the first (tjc_observed) is higher than the second (tjc_observed_28) then, we would advise using the first since that allows for a wider variety of joints to be counted.  The 28 is a specific set of joints that feed into many of the disease activity measures; the broader one allows for any joints (including some[…]

1 2